Hydraulic hammer having co-axial accumulator and piston

Abstract

A hydraulic hammer is disclosed having a piston and an accumulator membrane disposed external and co-axial to the piston. Additionally, a sleeve is disposed between the piston and accumulator membrane, wherein the sleeve has a plurality of radial passages formed therein that fluidly connect the accumulator membrane with the piston.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of operating a hydraulic hammer, comprising:
 receiving pressurized fluid at an inlet; 
 directing the pressurized fluid axially into an accumulator membrane; 
 redirecting the pressurized fluid radially inward from the accumulator membrane toward a piston; 
 biasing the piston upward with the pressurized fluid; 
 selectively blocking and passing the pressurized fluid to a valve with movement of the piston; 
 directing the pressurized fluid axially away from a tip of the piston to the valve; 
 biasing the valve upward with the pressurized fluid; 
 selectively directing the pressurized fluid into a fluid chamber located axially adjacent to the valve; 
 biasing the piston downward, away from the valve, with the pressurized fluid in the fluid chamber; 
 wherein biasing the piston upward increases gas pressure within a gas chamber located axially adjacent to the fluid chamber; and 
 biasing the piston downward and away from the valve with the pressurized gas in the gas chamber. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further including directing the pressurized fluid from the fluid chamber radially outward and through a plurality of outlet apertures located between a lip at one end of the accumulator membrane and the gas chamber.